Stock Markets Are Up -- So When Will the Dow Jones Set a Record High?

The stock market kept up its positive momentum from last week with another big gain on Monday. Investors continue to be optimistic about the prospects for some more government spending to help ailing businesses and people across the nation. As of 11:30 a.m. EDT, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI) was up 286 points to 28,873. The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) picked up 52 points to 3,529, and the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) moved higher by 244 points to 11,824.

It's easy to miss when the stock market is moving higher across the board, but the Dow Jones Industrials have lagged behind other benchmarks just about all year long. Even as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq roared ahead to new all-time highs, the Dow remains stubbornly below its high-water mark. The factors holding the Dow back say a lot about how investors are thinking right now and what's likely to happen in the future.

Image source: Getty Images.

Source Fool.com